Australia Caught In 'Cash-For-Halal' Claim

[icyfroth]

THE body governing halal meat in Indonesia is accused of demanding tens of thousands of dollars in "donations" and travel expenses from Australian businesses.

Indonesia's Tempo Magazine reports that meat entering the country must be certified halal - that is, prepared under Islamic guidelines - by groups licensed by the Indonesian Clerics Council (MUI).

Tempo reports that Australian groups seeking certification must pay large "donations" to the MUI, and foot the bill for groups of its representatives to visit.

Head of Halal Certification Authority based in Sydney, Mohammed El-Mouelhy, told Tempo that even though he agreed to the terms, he never got a halal label and was never told why.

Tempo reports seeing receipts for one business' deposits to the head of the MUI, Amidhan Shaberah.

The largest was $10,000, apparently to stop the MUI revoking the license of a business called Australian Halal Food Services.

Australian abattoirs are also being made to pay hundreds so the approved groups can inspect their facilities.

Director of meat processors JBS Australia, John Berry, told the magazine the high cost of halal certification was limiting business and concerning meat exporters who deal with Indonesia.

AAP has approached the MUI for comment.

Indonesian Twitter users expressed outrage at the report.

Some called for the end of the MUI "monopoly" and many called its conduct "haram," or forbidden by Islamic law.

"Heart & conduct must be halal too," user Rudy tweeted.

Click Here To View Entire Article

Hmmm...The Aussie Nation is a huge cash cow, apparently.

[*mrgrizz*]

none of this is new

one of the biggest rorts is iranian inspectors

[icyfroth]

Surely we have enough qualified and competent Aussie Imams to oversee the necessary procedures are followed?

[**snakes_alive**]

well austrlia is a 'multicultural' society and being part of that is bending to the religion and laws of those making their home here.
our laws have changed to make them feel more at home, our celebrations have been changed so as not to offend, our food must be prepared in a particular way (and available in prisons) to suit their religion.
are you really suprised soem take advantage of australias seemingly endless generosity.

[pct001wine]

---

@**snakes_alive** wrote:

well austrlia is a 'multicultural' society and being part of that is bending to the religion and laws of those making their home here.
our laws have changed to make them feel more at home, our celebrations have been changed so as not to offend, our food must be prepared in a particular way (and available in prisons) to suit their religion.
are you really suprised soem take advantage of australias seemingly endless generosity.

---

**snakes_alive**, genuine questions here, what laws have been changed to "make them feel more at home" ?

What celebrations have been changed "so as not to offend" ?  

I am preparing my food in the same way I always have - who is "forcing" us to do otherwise ?

Can I suggest you are mistaking "forcing" for "making allowance for" or "accommodating" or (shock horror) "accepting" ?

What is wrong with making halal meals (I guess that's what you're referring to) available to prisoners ?

[icyfroth]

---

@**snakes_alive** wrote:

well australia is a 'multicultural' society and being part of that is bending to the religion and laws of those making their home here.
our laws have changed to make them feel more at home, our celebrations have been changed so as not to offend, our food must be prepared in a particular way (and available in prisons) to suit their religion.

ok, got that.

are you really suprised some take advantage of australias seemingly endless generosity.

No. But I am surprised that the practice continues when we have enough qualified religious people, Mullahs or Imams, in the country to supervise procedures without having to "import" them from overseas?

What a farce. We export livestock overseas because they want the cattle slaughtered to their religious standard, and we import Muslim religious leaders to supervise the very same rituals over here.

Surely if wer'e bringing these people over here to supervise we could save exporting livestock and get it all done over here in the first place?

---

[**snakes_alive**]

the law has changed to allow women of certain ethnecicity cover their heads./ faces. they are not reqired by law to remove them in banks or for the police unlike people with helmets or hoodies - the law was changed to accomodate for them.

christmas - need i say more

[bluecat*dancing]

I don't see what the problem is? How does any of that affect the life you lead?

[boris1gary]

---

@**snakes_alive** wrote:

the law has changed to allow women of certain ethnecicity cover their heads./ faces. they are not reqired by law to remove them in banks or for the police unlike people with helmets or hoodies - the law was changed to accomodate for them.

christmas - need i say more

---

A NEW law requiring Muslim women to remove a burqa or niqab to prove their identity to West Australian police has been passed by the state's parliament.

Not exactly what you posted, does look like some laws have been changed but not "to accommodate for them".

Christmas? yes, please say more....

[icyfroth]

---

@**snakes_alive** wrote:

the law has changed to allow women of certain ethnecicity cover their heads./ faces. they are not reqired by law to remove them in banks or for the police unlike people with helmets or hoodies - the law was changed to accomodate for them.

christmas - need i say more

---

How did you get so far off topic?